The Digitalis Apple Blossom by the Bransford Webbs Plant Company was awarded the top prize in the herbaceous perennials category. The judges were impressed with the new frilly foxglove, with its primrose yellow to apple blossom, pale pink and purple flower-form and creamy buds, which throws up multiple flower spikes and attract pollinators.
David Chilvers, Sales & Marketing Director at The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, “We’re really pleased to have won the New Plant Award here at the HTA National Plant Show this year. Thank you to the HTA and all the judges.”
Martin Simmons, HTA Member Engagement Manager said, “This year’s New Plant Awards showcased a spectacular range of innovative and beautiful plants, with numerous stunning entries making the judging process particularly challenging. We award bronze, silver and gold in each category, and across all categories there were 36 bronze, 20 silver and 16 golds. From the gold entries we choose the best in each category. The compliments and positive feedback from the judges underscore the quality and innovation in this year’s entries.”
Award winners at this year’s HTA National Plant Show
Herbaceous Perennials category
The Bransford Webbs Plant Company: Digitalis purpurea Apple Blossom (Best in Show)
Annuals, bedding and container & basket plants
Ball Colegrave: Bidens ferulifolia Bee Happy Double Orange
Flowering Houseplants
Profitplant BV: Cyclamen persicum Illusia
Foliage Houseplants
Javado UK: Aglaonema Grand Blossom
Cacti & Succulents
Javado UK: Cotyledon Hybride Elephant Trunk
Trees
Frank P Matthews Ltd: Prunus Crystal Falls®
Shrubs (including Conifers) & Climbers
Newey Ltd: Lavatera Lilia Twirl ‘Hyfirl’
2024 Visitors Choice Award
The Farplants Group, Spiraea WALBERTON’S® PLUM CARPET was awarded the Visitor Vote – voted entirely by visitors to the show. The Spiraea has a compact bushy habit which makes it an ideal shrub for small garden space and container growing. According to Farplants Sales Ltd, it has outstanding disease resistance and is extremely cold-hardy. Once established, it will perform with very little maintenance.
Andy Merrick from Farplants said, “We are really, really pleased and quite taken aback. It’s a fantastic product. It’s not the best time of year to show it, so we’re pleased people have voted for it and they’ve been able to take the time to look at the product and think about what it will be like in the spring; it has great purple coverage and partners really well with MAGIC CARPET. The visitor vote is the one that means a lot, really pleased.”
Alan Down, HTA President, added “It’s great to see visitors choosing an easy-to-grow plant that will appeal to a range of gardeners, from the first-time gardeners to those who are more experienced.”
The HTA National Plant Show is currently on at the NAEC, Stoneleigh, 19 – 20 June 2024.